BUGS FOR THE AMATEUR
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| Ponerinae: Un-identified species.1 |
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April 2006, Sai kung Country Park. Worker.
April 2006, Sai kung Country Park. Young queen.
The sequence below shows different aspects of a nuptial flight, whereby, young un-fertilised queens and males engage and attempt to mate. With this species the act is not easy, and males aggressively pounce on queens, who in turn defend themselves or flee. Odour seem to play a major part as males seem to track queens down quite easily.
Most of the young queens will never found a new nest and will fall prey to predators.
April 2006, Sai kung Country Park. Male.
The life of males resumes itself to the copulation act, and soon-after the nuptial flight it will die, either of natural death or victim of some predator.
April 2006, Sai kung Country Park. Male and young queen: mating attempt. The encounter lasted less than a few seconds.
